Let’s talk Strings

LiveeviL2000

LiveeviL2000

Ambassador of Pentagonal Pentatonics
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This is probably opening can of worms of epic size.

Currently I’m using the following.

All Ernie Ball slinky series.
9-42 for E std tuning and D#
10-48 E to D and drop tunings
10-52 C# to drop B

I really do like a standard set of 9s. They are super bendy and really bright.
The 10-48 are great because they still maintain enough tension even at those Sabbath-ish doomy tunings.
The heavy bottoms 10-52 are great for C#. Although you might have to modify the nut to accommodate the thicker gauge.

I’ve tried D’Addario strings but they just don’t seem worth the extra $$. They do sound a bit brighter. But I will go with what I know.

I’ve tried those DR neon strings recently and they do look cool but the neon coating flakes off right away and they sound like :poo:

What brand or sizes do you use and why?
 
Well. On my acoustic I am a touch particular. I used Martin Marquis for years. About 20 years ago my youngest got me hooked on Elixers. 12-53s. Have used those since. They sound great and last forever.

My electrics I haven’t been so particular. Right now I have these in my box of gear goodies.

1668207836082.jpeg

9-46 on my Strat and Tele. And 10-46 on my G400 and Viking. I’ve had others and frankly, my ears and fingers aren’t smart enough to tell a difference. I don’t play nearly as hard or long as a lot of you, so regardless what I use they last a long time and I don’t break them. When I finally use these up, we’ll see what I go with at that point. May change…. May not.

However. I’ve seen when this question is posed you’ll get several answers of….. “I buy whatever’s on sale.”
 
iblive said:
Well. On my acoustic I am a touch particular. I used Martin Marquis for years. About 20 years ago my youngest got me hooked on Elixers. 12-53s. Have used those since. They sound great and last forever.

My electrics I haven’t been so particular. Right now I have these in my box of gear goodies.

View attachment 87110

9-46 on my Strat and Tele. And 10-46 on my G400 and Viking. I’ve had others and frankly, my ears and fingers aren’t smart enough to tell a difference. I don’t play nearly as hard or long as a lot of you, so regardless what I use they last a long time and I don’t break them. When I finally use these up, we’ll see what I go with at that point. May change…. May not.

However. I’ve seen when this question is posed you’ll get several answers of….. “I buy whatever’s on sale.”
Click to expand...
I was re-reading this and chuckled. Stated I’d used the Martins for years and the Elixers the last 20. I’ve had that guitar since 1974 when I bought it new in a little mom and pop store in Galesburg Ill. I’m old. What can I say.
 
Ernie Ball Power Slinky 11-48

Usually I tune to D standard, sometimes Eb standard, and drop C/C#....and once in a while I go all the way down to drop A...these strings cover it all for me pretty well, only thing is the lower I tune, the more mindful of pick hand attack/dynamics I gotta be.

I don't particularly love anything heavier than that, and these have just worked for me for a long time, so I just keep going with it
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
This is probably opening can of worms of epic size.

Currently I’m using the following.

All Ernie Ball slinky series.
9-42 for E std tuning and D#
10-48 E to D and drop tunings
10-52 C# to drop B

I really do like a standard set of 9s. They are super bendy and really bright.
The 10-48 are great because they still maintain enough tension even at those Sabbath-ish doomy tunings.
The heavy bottoms 10-52 are great for C#. Although you might have to modify the nut to accommodate the thicker gauge.

I’ve tried D’Addario strings but they just don’t seem worth the extra $$. They do sound a bit brighter. But I will go with what I know.

I’ve tried those DR neon strings recently and they do look cool but the neon coating flakes off right away and they sound like :poo:

What brand or sizes do you use and why?
Click to expand...
Double post .
 
Last edited:
LiveeviL2000 said:
This is probably opening can of worms of epic size.

Currently I’m using the following.

All Ernie Ball slinky series.
9-42 for E std tuning and D#
10-48 E to D and drop tunings
10-52 C# to drop B

I really do like a standard set of 9s. They are super bendy and really bright.
The 10-48 are great because they still maintain enough tension even at those Sabbath-ish doomy tunings.
The heavy bottoms 10-52 are great for C#. Although you might have to modify the nut to accommodate the thicker gauge.

I’ve tried D’Addario strings but they just don’t seem worth the extra $$. They do sound a bit brighter. But I will go with what I know.

I’ve tried those DR neon strings recently and they do look cool but the neon coating flakes off right away and they sound like :poo:

What brand or sizes do you use and why?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
LiveeviL2000 said:
This is probably opening can of worms of epic size.

Currently I’m using the following.

All Ernie Ball slinky series.
9-42 for E std tuning and D#
10-48 E to D and drop tunings
10-52 C# to drop B

I really do like a standard set of 9s. They are super bendy and really bright.
The 10-48 are great because they still maintain enough tension even at those Sabbath-ish doomy tunings.
The heavy bottoms 10-52 are great for C#. Although you might have to modify the nut to accommodate the thicker gauge.

I’ve tried D’Addario strings but they just don’t seem worth the extra $$. They do sound a bit brighter. But I will go with what I know.

I’ve tried those DR neon strings recently and they do look cool but the neon coating flakes off right away and they sound like :poo:

What brand or sizes do you use and why?
Click to expand...

Wow, your string selection is easy!

For me, for Gibsons I use GHS Boomers 10-46, with a .018 wound 3rd.

For my Stratocaster and Jackson, I use a GHS Boomers 9-42, but I replace the .011 second string with a .012. I also replace the 3rd string with a .018 wound third.

For my Gretsch I use the same as the Gibsons: GHS Boomers 10-46, with a .018 wound 3rd. I use this even though the Gretsch White Falcon (unlike the Electromatics) has the same scale length as Fender. The heavier gauge works better with a Bigsby.

For my acoustic I use Elixir 80-20 Bronze Polywebs 12-53.

I normally keep my guitars at standard tuning, though I occasionally will detune my acoustic 1/2 or 1 step.
 
smitty_p said:
Wow, your string selection is easy!

For me, for Gibsons I use GHS Boomers 10-46, with a .018 wound 3rd.

For my Stratocaster and Jackson, I use a GHS Boomers 9-42, but I replace the .011 second string with a .012. I also replace the 3rd string with a .018 wound third.

For my Gretsch I use the same as the Gibsons: GHS Boomers 10-46, with a .018 wound 3rd. I use this even though the Gretsch White Falcon (unlike the Electromatics) has the same scale length as Fender. The heavier gauge works better with a Bigsby.

For my acoustic I use Elixir 80-20 Bronze Polywebs 12-53.

I normally keep my guitars at standard tuning, though I occasionally will detune my acoustic 1/2 or 1 step.
Click to expand...
Wound Gs... I cannot imagine on an electric....strong hands!!

I use 9 - 42 on the shredders, sometimes hybrid 9 - 46 and 10 - 46 on most others. Ususally EBs. Just put Paradigms on the EVH.
Might try 9.5s and split the difference somewhere...
 
With the exception of my tele, all my electrics get EB 10~46 regular slinkys. I did try 9~42s on my strat (floating bridge) & Jackson (floating FR), but ended up going straight back to the 10~46's next string change (so four floating bridge set-ups in that episode). I was using Daddario XL nickel wounds for my 5 string open G tuned tele, IIRC a 7 string set to get the gauges I wanted (& wasting two strings per string change). Then I discovered the EB 11~52 Burly Slinkys that give me 11, 14 & 18 gauge plain strings & 30 & 42 gauge wound strings, plus the 52 that gets wasted of course. My acoustic now get EB Earthwood 10~52 Rock & Blues, as I like a plain G string. Cheers
 
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